On top of the world! That's what it feels like! The flowers are just beginning to bloom and we can hardly believe how much we see every time we visit Arabia Mountain. The diamorpha (the red stuff) is growing more and more. The chance for rain was 100% for Saturday...did that stop us from our mountain? NO WAY!
Can you see those delicate white flowers just beginning to bloom? They remind me of snow-in-summer, the flowers that I love so much when I am in England!
This was at the base of the second mountain over, the one I call the "Quarried Mountain"... we stopped here to have our coffee. We had a bluebird singing for us as the turkey vultures circled overhead and rode the thermals...
Can you imagine how nice that shade feels on a sunny day after a brisk walk? The green of the moss was just...oh so lovely, I wanted to lie down in it!
As we were sitting on the rock, this moth (I think it is a moth) fluttered down right in front of me! Can you tell that the wings underneath have not come completely out yet? Also, the right wing is still curled up... Do you think that I started singing "Spread your tiny wings and fly away"? You know that I did! Can anyone tell me if this is a moth and the name of it? Those orange spots were lovely and the antennae and legs were the color of wheat...
Okay, now I really got down on my knees to photograph these flowers...I love this color!
This is at the top of the mountain next to Arabia. At first, all I could see was the rocks but now I see how life is coming back to it...
This is on an Eastern Red Cedar tree, the tree right next to didn't have these blue berries but instead had brownish sort of seeds...after reading about it, the blue is the female and the brown is the male. Not a true cedar, according to my sources, but really a juniper tree. Apparently, birds like to eat those berries and so we need to give our thanks to birds for all these Eastern Red Cedars that we see which are called cedars but are not really cedars. Understand all that? Good, now explain it to me!
Oh, and that rain? It held off until the late afternoon, so we were able to spend hours on the mountain! 100 % GRATEFUL!
One of the best trips yet, thank you. I love the one of the moss and cones and... Oh heck, I love them all.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I love a challenge so I'll be back (hopefully) about that lepidopterous beastie.
For aome reason I can only reply, not comment afresh. There are times when I hate blogger!
DeleteHi, Kay. It's a Northern Buckeye (Junonia coenia coenia). You can see what the hindwings look like if you click on this link.
Oh, I am glad that you liked this. Honestly, we can't wait for Spring to arrive on Arabia!
DeleteScriptor,
DeleteA Norterhn buckeye. (Buckeyes here are a nut that are the same as you call conkers in England, I THINK).
I cannot thank you enough for finding that name AND link for me, how beautiful it is. You can really see how much those wings were curled up. Does that mean that it had just come out of its...however you spell what it is wrapped up in? Quite a thrill to have it flutter down right in front of me, I can tell you!
A NORTHERN buckeye! Doggone it, I cannot seem to notice anything wrong until after I hit Publish!
DeleteDo you notice that oftentimes, I misspell "Scriptor" I sometimes leave out the "R"!
Thinking about it, is that the way you spell "misspell"?
100% agreeing with John here, this is one of the best trips yet you've taken us on. Such beautiful pictures! So glad you could make that trip and the weather forecast had not deterred you.
ReplyDeleteDear Librarian,
DeleteTHANK YOU! Glad that you enjoyed another trip on the mountain with us! And hey, I took a few of these photos, including the mossy ones...even our son liked those.
We listen to the weather forecast but we make up our own minds. So far, so good!
Beautiful photos, Kay! Love the colours on that little moth. They may not be the move popular creatures but some of them are really pretty. Spring is on its way here. We should be seeing some bulbs sprouting next month. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteDear Martha,
DeleteLook at the link that Scriptor left and you will see the BEST photo of that moth and know what it really looks like! It won't be long now for Georgia for Spring, but here, we have to be quick, it seems as if it only lasts for five minutes, then...SUMMER!
What a fabulous day Kay, sometimes we have to be our own weatherman - or we wouldn't go anywhere if we took every forecast to heart. Those mossy areas are just dreamy! Your Northern Buckeye is beautiful - the natural world is amazing :)
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
DeleteThose mossy areas are dreamy, Richard said it was like fairy land!
Can't wait to see more photos of your neck of the woods when Spring arrives! :-)
That was some walk. Thank you for taking me along.
ReplyDeleteI have just been around Castle Grounds with Briagha. Ask John and I am sure he will be able to put some pictures on your blog. If I remember rightly he has some really lovely ones. I would love to put some on to show you the places I walk but I am not sure how to do it. Will find out from his brother when he returns from New Zealand in May!
Happy walking Pat
Whatever Castle Grounds you were walking around, I would love to see them! Why don't you have your own blog? If I can have one, you can too!
DeleteHappy walking to you too! :-)
Cheers!
Kay
What a lovely, lovely place and I love your photos!!!
ReplyDeleteDear Audrey,
DeleteThanks, I appreciate your comment so much. I should just have a blog on Arabia Mountain alone!!!
Now I can't add to replies - tis is so frustrating... I hadn't noticed the mis-spellings (miss-pellings, or whatever) of Scriptor. But then it's not unknown for me to do it myself.
ReplyDeleteWhen the butterfly emerges from it's hrysals ;s wings are all tightly rolled up. Gradually it pumps blood into them to make them spread out. Yours was obviously newly emerged and will have become as beautiful as the link one after a while.
Oh yes, you have confirmed it for me. I really thought that it had come out of its chrysalis...it was incredible, it kind of just came from nowhere. I suspect it could have been on the rock just next to us, it was amazing to watch it spread its wings RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! The wings and the antennae were just the creamiest shade, like the color of wheat. Richard took a photo of me all bent over looking at that butterfly and I am at such an angle, it's a wonder I didn't tumble off the mountain. Bowled over by a butterfly, that's me!
Delete